diff --git a/ThirdParty/Ert/lib/ecl/ecl_smspec.cpp b/ThirdParty/Ert/lib/ecl/ecl_smspec.cpp
index cc8957b2ce..a99cf7ab8b 100644
--- a/ThirdParty/Ert/lib/ecl/ecl_smspec.cpp
+++ b/ThirdParty/Ert/lib/ecl/ecl_smspec.cpp
@@ -1249,7 +1249,7 @@ ecl_smspec_type * ecl_smspec_fread_alloc(const char *header_file, const char * k
          'YEARS' as basic time unit; that mode is not supported.
       */
 
-      util_abort("%s: Sorry the SMSPEC file seems to lack all time information, need either TIME, or DAY/MONTH/YEAR information. Can not proceed.",__func__);
+      ecl_smspec_free( ecl_smspec );
       return NULL;
     }
     return ecl_smspec;